Clan Macdonald of Clanranald
Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, also known as Clan Ranald, is a Highland Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald, one of the largest Scottish clans. The founder of the Macdonalds of Clanranald is Reginald, 4th great-grandson of Somerled. The Macdonalds of Clanranald descend from Reginald's elder son Allan and the MacDonells of Glengarry descend from his younger son Donald.
The clan chief of the MacDonalds of Clanranald is traditionally designated as The Captain of Clanranald and "Son of Ailein's son" and today both the chief and clan are recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the heraldic judge in Scotland.
History of the MacDonalds of Clanranald
Origins
The MacDonalds of Clanranald are one of the branch clans of Clan Donald—one of the largest Scottish clans. The eponymous ancestor of Clan Donald is Donald, son of Reginald, son of Somerled. Somerled, son of Gillebride was a 12th-century leader, styled as "king of the isles" and "king of Argyll", though his origins and ancestry are obscure. The Macdonalds of Clanranald descend from Donald's son, Angus Mor and then from his son, Angus Og. Angus Og's son John was the first Lord of the Isles. John's first marriage was to Amie mac Ruari, heiress of Clann Ruaidhrí. John later divorced Amie and married Margaret, daughter of Robert II. The children from John's first marriage were passed over in the main succession and the chiefship of Clan Donald and the later Macdonald Lords of the Isles would go on to descend from John's second marriage. The Macdonalds of Clanranald and MacDonells of Glengarry both descend from John and Amie's eldest son, Reginald.14th century
Reginald, 1st of Clanranald, succeeded through his mother Amie mac Ruari in the majority of the old lands of Clann Ruaidhrí. In 1371, his father John confirmed this succession by a charter of these lands; this charter also granted him others on the mainland. John's charter was confirmed the following year by Robert II; it included the lands of Eigg, Rum, Uist, Harris, the three pennylands of Sunart and Letterlochette, the two pennylands of Ardgour, the pennylands of Hawlaste and sixty merklands in Lochaber. On their father John's death, Reginald's younger half-brother, Donald, son of John and Margaret, succeeded to the lordship of the isles and chiefship of Clan Donald. Reginald died in 1386 at Castle Tioram and was buried at Relig Odhráin on Iona. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Allan. According to the family seanachie MacVuirich, Reginald's brother Godfrey took possession of the former Clann Ruaidhrí lands of Uist and those on the mainland, leaving Reginald's sons the lands in Lochaber.This early era from Reginald down to his great-grandson Allan, son of Roderick, is by far the most obscure in the history of the clan. From the years 1372–1495, no charters of the family exist and it is impossible to know for certain exactly what territories it possessed. The earliest document to shed some light on this era is a charter granted by James V to John Moidartach in 1531. It states that the lands granted had been held by his grandfather, Allan, son of Roderick, and his predecessors. The lands mentioned were the 27 merklands of Moidart, the 30 merklands of Arisaig, 21 merklands in Eigg, and the 30 merklands of Skirhough, in South Uist. According to Angus and Archibald Macdonald, it seems likely that this mere fragment of Ranald's original lands was all that the senior branch of Reginald's descendants had left by the time of Allan, 2nd of Clanranald.
15th century
In 1427, James summoned parliament at Inverness and summoned the area chiefs. Of those, Alexander and John MacArthur were immediately seized and executed. Allan, son of Reginald, seems to have survived, as his name is recorded in the Exchequer Rolls for the year 1428. This is the only contemporary record of Allan to exist; although his name appears in the genealogies and manuscript histories of the clan, nothing else is recorded of him, and thus there is nothing to show whether he succeeded to his father's lands after the execution of Alexander. It is however likely that, as he held a crown charter for the lands, the king would have preferred him to other claimants.Allan is also said to have fought at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, as did his brothers Donald and Dugald. According to Macdonald and Macdonald, Allan likely died sometime between 1428 and 1430 at Castle Tioram and was buried at Relig Odhráin. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Roderick.
The descendants of Godfrey gradually decayed in power after the death of Alexander, though they continued to hold the lands of North Uist.
Roderick, 3rd of Clanranald, supported the Earl of Ross against the Scottish crown, joining him in the earl's 1492 expedition against Inverness. The MS History of the Mackintoshes states that Roderick collected a band of men "accustomed to live by rapine, fell upon Inverness, pillaged and burnt the houses". In 1431, Roderick fought under Donald Balloch against the king's troops at Lochaber. In 1455, he was part of a Macdonald failed raid on Sutherland, in which the History of Clanranald states that while the Macdonalds were ultimately defeated in the engagement, Roderick succeeded in saving most of his men and returned to Castle Tioram. In 1469, the John II, Lord of the Isles granted to his half-brother Hugh of Sleat, much of the lands that were originally held by Ranald. These included the 30 merklands of Skirbough in South Uist, the 12 merklands of Benbecula, and the 60 merklands of North Uist. It also appears the Hugh of Sleat additionally held 24 merklands in Arisaig and 21 merklands in Eigg. In consequence on Roderick's death, his descendants were left with a heritage of disputed territories. Roderick died in 1481, was buried at Relig Odhráin, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Allan.
Allan, 4th of Clanranald, is regarded as one of the greater chiefs of the clan. He was one of the main supporters of Angus, bastard son of John II, Lord of the Isles, during the Battle of Bloody Bay. During the battle, which was located between Ardnamurchan and Tobermory, Angus defeated his father John. Following Angus' death, Allan supported Alexander of Lochaslsh, who would have likely been thought of as the presumptive heir of the lordship of the isles. Allan also supported Alexander of Lochalsh at the Battle of Blar Na Pairce in about 1488, against the Mackenzies. In 1491 Alexander raised his standard and was joined by his kinsmen the MacDonalds of Keppoch, and the Camerons and the Macdonalds of Clanranald. From Lochaber they marched through Badenoch, joined by members of Clan Chattan and Rose of Kilravock, with the intent of harrying the lands of the Earl of Huntly. From Badenoch the rebels then marched towards Inverness, taking possession and garrisoning it. The lands of Alexander Urquhart of Cromarty, who had opposed the Earl of Ross, were ravished and most of the booty carried off fell into the hands of the Macdonalds of Clanranald. The spoil gained by the clan was reckoned to have been 600 cows and oxen, 80 horses, 1000 sheep, 200 swine, and 500 bolls victual. The following year the clan was ordered by the Government to indemnify Urquhart and his tenants for the loss they sustained in the rebellion; however it is not known if any restitution was ever made by the rebels. When James IV first visited the Highlands after fall of the lordship of the isles, Allan was one of the few chiefs to render his homage. During the reign of Allan's chiefship, a dispute arose between himself, John Cathanach Macdonald, 4th of Dunnyveg, and MacIan of Ardnamurchan, concerning the lands of Sunart. The Government ordered that the lands were to be maintained by the current tenants until the dispute was settled between the chiefs and the king's advisors. Very soon after this, Alexander of Lochalsh again raised a revolt. However, this time Allan refused to join, though it is likely he harassed Lochalsh's enemy—Mackenzie of Kintail.
Gaelic scholar Henry Whyte, once recorded a story about Allan Macdonald's bitter feud with Hector Odhar Maclean, 9th chief of Duart. Considered "the dread and terror of all the neighbouring clans," Allan made a name for himself by confining the chiefs of Macleod, Mackintosh, and Mackay of Strathnaver in Castle Tioram.
During the time of the feud, Allan took one vessel only and set out to sail between Moidart and the small Isles. As Whyte tells it:
The man on the look-out descried another large birlinn coming round the point of Ardnamurchan. "Whose is she?" asked Allan. "The Chief of Maclean's." "My dire foe," ejaculated Allan. "Shall we put about?" asked the steersman. "She will overtake us," said the watchman; "she is large and full of men." "Go on," said Allan, spread my plaid over me, stretched on this beam; if hailed or questioned, say you are conveying Allan MacRuaire's remains to Iona. Play the family Lament, piper." They were hailed, and answered as directed. "Let them pass with the dead," said the Chief of Maclean; "we are well quit of Allan." As soon as they were out of sight, Allan arose and said, "Row to the nearest point of Mull." He landed and, taking some of his men, ordered the rest to row to Aros Bay. On his way across to Aros, he set fire to the houses. In the meantime, Maclean landed in Moidart and commenced to carry off the cattle. Some who ascended the highest hill saw the island of Mull in smoke and immediately informed their chief. "Ha!" says he. "Allan is come alive; leave the cattle and let us back and intercept our foe on his return. When Allan arrived at Aros, he boarded his galley and said, "Row, men, to Loch Suaineart , and avoid a second meeting; quick, ere he doubles the point." They landed at Salen, Loch Suaineart; withdrawing the wooden pins the birlinn was soon in planks and on the shoulders of the men and soon launched on the waters of Sheilfoot, and Allan was in his castle as soon as Maclean arrived at his own; and thus saved his cattle by burning a few thatched houses."
Nothing else is known of Allan's chiefship. Macdonald and Macdonald state that Allan died in 1505 at Blair Atholl. He was succeeded by his son, Ranald Bane.